Iranian Kurds

Question 1

Implication of the Study

Answer 1

ethno-nationalism is a contextually contingent process and can express itself in multiple forms over long periods

Question 2

The Kurds

Answer 2

divided between the borders of Turkey, Iran and Syria
Turkey (23%), Iraq (23%), Iran (10%)
difficult to measure who falls into categories
years of intermarriages

Question 3

Six Stages of Kurdish Ethno-nationalism in Iran

Answer 3

1) Fragmentation
2) Politicization and Independence
3) Electoral Politics
4) From Radicalization to Inactivity
5) From Electoral Politics to Armed Conflict
6) From Guerilla warfare to Inactivity

Question 4

Fragmentation

Answer 4

Qajar Dysasty
Persia was ruled by him
Iran was penetrated by foreign countries

Question 5

Persia and Tribal Identity

Answer 5

country was divided politically
There was no coherent Persian identity
the imperial structure of Persia which supported the traditional elites within Persian communities
dedicated to protecting their tribal, religious identity
each tribe had their own land
Tribal identity over and above any national identity
lines of inclusion and exclusion based on Islam
so: a very limited manifestation of Kurdish nationalism by disorganized tribal militas

Question 6

Gradual Structural Stages

Answer 6

Rexa Shah, a military commander, seized power in 1921
Rexa was in love with what was happening in Turkey
Attempted to modernize Iran from Turkey’s views
Implemented state building and same policies in Iran
Ended tribal conflict in Iran
Wanted tribes to settle and not move around
* some Kurdish tribes were destroyed because of this policy
* did not provide sufficient funds for Kurds to mobilize

Question 7

Stage 2: Politicization and Independence

Answer 7

During WW2 and the presence of foreign powers
soviet troops in the North
British troops in the south
Consequences of the former Shah’s modernization
Iranian Kurds now started to see themselves as Kurds

Question 8

The First Iranian Kurdish Political Party: JK

Answer 8

1942
The JK’s major tools to promote its ethno-nationalist ideologies
*print publications
*official journal: Long Live Kurdistan

Question 9

The Formation of Kurdish Democratic Party (KDPI)

Answer 9

rejection of armed conflict
very strong religious tendency
strong contrast to the strong leftist views that they obtained later

Question 10

Republic of Kurdistan

Answer 10

issued a formal declaration
demand for autonomy of the Kurds
autonomy, not independence
sense of optimism amongst Kurdish leaders
encourage Kurds to take a step further
successfully managed to frame a politicized Kurdish identity: Peshmerga, flag, anthem`

Question 11

Stage 3 : Electoral Politics

Answer 11

The rise of Iranian leftists movements
a considerably liberal and inclusive state
nationalized Iranian petroleum industries as British had control over petrol over this time
wanted to give more autonomy for the peripheries

Question 12

Stage 3 : Electoral Politics (2)

Answer 12

The Kurds had the opportunity to push for within-state solutions
Kurds used electoral system to voice their opinions
overthrown by a coup (led by Britain and US) in 1953
Kurdish nationalist movements became radicalized after coip

Question 13

Stage 4: From Radicalization to Inactivity

Answer 13

Mossadeq (democratically elected PM from 1951-1953)
back to a period of fear and terror
In the 1960s until the Islamic Revolution
*persanization
*Repression (SAVAK: the secret police)
1964: the KDPI: Democracy for Iran, autonomy for Kurdistan
The Iraqi Kurds vs KDPI (Iranian Kurds)

Question 14

Stage 5: From Electoral Politics to Armed Conflict

Answer 14

In 1969: gradual disintegration of the centralized structure of the movement
1970s and revolutionary movements: the development of Peshmerga forces into an independent force
1979 revolution: from inclusion to exclusion
1979: Declaration of a Holy War on Kurds

Question 15

1980: The Iran-Iraq War

Answer 15

longest international conflict after WWII
provided military and financial support of Kurds in other countries
the assassination of Kurdish leaders

Question 16

Stage 6: From Guerilla Warfare to Inactivity

Answer 16

Kurdish nationalist movements in Iran became quite weak and fragmented from the mid 1980s onwards
*capacity of Kurdish organizations relocated to Iraq

Question 17

Mid to late 1990s

Answer 17

Iran has the rise of the reform government
decentralization of power
became very popular among population in Iran: Khatami
ethnic minorities bought into his campaign promises
*women students
president in Iran for 8 years
Iranian Kurds used the opportunity to run for elections
taking the electoral rate instead of conflict and war route
End of the reform was the end of President Khatami’s term

Question 18

Revitaization

Answer 18

Khatami as president of Iran
The rise of PJAK (founded in 2004, Iranian branch of PKK)
post-US invasion of Iraq in 2003: revelation of the Iranian Kurdish organizations in Iraq
Iranian Kurdish organizations found some hope pursuing this objective
Tried to meet with the US, but nothing really happened from this

Question 19

Rassan (Revitalization)

Answer 19

women’s participation
presence of women as leaders
a lot of them joined organizations because they already had someone in the organization
history in their famliy
very rare to find someone that joined organizations for ethno-nationlist reasons

Question 20

Optimism/Opportunity

Answer 20

opportunity structures in the political government determined the form that the Iranian government would take
significant optimism amongst organizational elites:
if there is no optimism, they will not start a war or movement for self-determination and separatism
grievances are not going to determine armed conflict